Harris signed up for yard waste service for the remainder of the year. The cart rental plus service agreement set us back $19.50. This also entitles us to two free bulky brush pick ups. We have requested one for the bamboo that the city tells us will be complete by Saturday. We'll see on that one.
It also enables us to fill 10 lawn and leaf bags a week with bamboo leaves to be picked up for free at the curb by the city.
You might wonder why there are so many posts about bamboo and so few about...you know...the house.
First, the bamboo is something we can actively work on and make progress, ergo it is satisfying to do this work. Additionally, it is realtively inexpensive to go and hack/haul/curse the bamboo.
Second, the bamboo lot had previously obsured the sidewalk, making it impossible to see the connections between this section of Elizabeth St and the hill. Now that we've cleared it, from the sidewalk you can see straight on to Dowd St. It is also less likely that the lot will be cited by NIS for code enforcement.
Third, the overgrown and trash filled lot makes the place feel abandoned and un loved. We want to instead make it seem a little loved.
Fourth, Natalie is tragically afraid of snakes. As it gets warmer, there is less of a chance that she will go anywhere that she cannot see the ground...so we better get it clean before the critters emerge.
Fifth, we're still planning the interior of the house. This isn't our full time job by any means. Since we don't have the loans lined up yet to do the work or the tax credit application submitted, there's not much we can do inside of Lizzy other than clean.
We've set up a meeting with Sara of 4 over 1 to chat about the house next week and are excited to hear her thoughts!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Bamboo v.5
Today was much majesty.
I decided, you know, bamboo is just grass. How hard could it be to move it to the street?
I found out four hours later (with the help of Bill) that it is that damn hard to move bamboo after it's dry and there are thousands of shafts.
Paid Bill $80 for the 4 hours of work today. The lot is nasty, there are stakes everywhere, and he's great company. We got to gossip and at least one person stopped by after hearing Bill from the street. Harris and Madeline brought us pizza and real soda and Madeline got to look for bugs with her PopPop.
While we were moving bamboo to pile at the street, we also started moving bottles. First count coming soon!
I decided, you know, bamboo is just grass. How hard could it be to move it to the street?
I found out four hours later (with the help of Bill) that it is that damn hard to move bamboo after it's dry and there are thousands of shafts.
Paid Bill $80 for the 4 hours of work today. The lot is nasty, there are stakes everywhere, and he's great company. We got to gossip and at least one person stopped by after hearing Bill from the street. Harris and Madeline brought us pizza and real soda and Madeline got to look for bugs with her PopPop.
While we were moving bamboo to pile at the street, we also started moving bottles. First count coming soon!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Lizzy Proposed
Harris and I were brainstorming this past weekend about what Lizzy was missing and what we have not decided on.
We have a really tall crawl space. We're currently investigating whether or not we can pour concrete and finish part of this space for a laundry room and climate controlled storage. This would also enable us to put the water heater here if we decide to go with system with a tank and let us keep the panel box there. We have to investigate code for these decisions.
We're going to ask the preservation office if we can remove the fireplace that has collapsed. This has been a plan for awhile now, but we had been thinking that if we are able to remove the fireplace we would then place a half bathroom in that space. Now we are thinking that if they let us remove the fireplace, we'll put a staircase to the basement nee' crawl space in that location.
We still have not resolved where we will put closets. The house has been...altered...in such a way that there are really no straight lines or consistent walls. Once we remove the existing closet and full bath off of the bedroom, we'll have a better idea as to the dimensions of the hallway. However, we will also then have a house with no closets.
Then there is the question about access between the bedrooms. Do we want all access through the hallway or to retain the access between the two bedrooms? This access point was originally the rear door, so I think we have a lot of options.
So before we submit the proposal to the preservation office for comment we have some details to work out on our end. Thoughts and opinions appreciated...
I give you Lizzy Proposed!
We have a really tall crawl space. We're currently investigating whether or not we can pour concrete and finish part of this space for a laundry room and climate controlled storage. This would also enable us to put the water heater here if we decide to go with system with a tank and let us keep the panel box there. We have to investigate code for these decisions.
We're going to ask the preservation office if we can remove the fireplace that has collapsed. This has been a plan for awhile now, but we had been thinking that if we are able to remove the fireplace we would then place a half bathroom in that space. Now we are thinking that if they let us remove the fireplace, we'll put a staircase to the basement nee' crawl space in that location.
We still have not resolved where we will put closets. The house has been...altered...in such a way that there are really no straight lines or consistent walls. Once we remove the existing closet and full bath off of the bedroom, we'll have a better idea as to the dimensions of the hallway. However, we will also then have a house with no closets.
Then there is the question about access between the bedrooms. Do we want all access through the hallway or to retain the access between the two bedrooms? This access point was originally the rear door, so I think we have a lot of options.
So before we submit the proposal to the preservation office for comment we have some details to work out on our end. Thoughts and opinions appreciated...
I give you Lizzy Proposed!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Before and after - Sidewalk
That damn bamboo.
Sidewalk around the time we bought the lot
Sidewalk mostly finished
Sidewalk around the time we bought the lot
 |
| From Lizzy tax credit application |
Sidewalk mostly finished
 |
| From Lizzy tax credit application |
Friday, February 4, 2011
whoops
***I looked and it seemed that a couple of things were drafted then never posted.
We had TROSA come to haul away all of the bamboo and such that I have lopped, only to discover that we are heartless and thoughtless. It was quite an eye-opening experience for me.
The estimate they gave was great, their lawn shop supervisor visited the site and thought it would be a quick job. We were happy that all of the bamboo would be hauled off and we could focus on cleaning the lot. When the crew arrived, several of the workers freaked out. They saw bottles. They saw needles. They couldn't work in those conditions.
We found this out when we called TROSA to find out what time they would be there so we could pay, sign the paperwork, and generally cheer them on and thank them. TROSA amazed us that day. If you have any experience with day laborers or the general state of workers who are paid off the books in Durham, you know that it is a sad place with no work place protections, pay under the table, and wages less than minimum wage. Workers are treated at chattle.
When you combine non-profit status to that, often people are exploited beyond belief. In the name of recovering, someone else benefits from their labor entirely.
TROSA is the exact opposite of this. We knew this before hiring them, but had it confirmed in numerous ways that day.
When their workers came to the supervisor and said they were uncomfortable TROSA listened. They DID NOT tell their community members to suck it up. They did not tell them to get back in there and finish the damn job. They LISTENED. They responded with respect.
TROSA pulled the crew out of the lot immediately. They called and explained that while they did provide services, it was a treatment facility and therapuetic community. They could not put their residents in a place or position that would be detrimental to their recovery from addiction. They were very sorry and they would love to finish the job, but since there were bottles (and someone saw needles) they just couldn't put their workers in that situation. Thank you for the business, but they would have to turn the job down until the situation changed.
Trosa is amazing.
When you consider the amount of power someone at month 6 has in a 2 year residential treatment facility generally, to be able to say, I spoke up and people listened and respected what I had to say. People were concerned not about the bottom line, but about my well being and opinions. This says so much about the people who run TROSA at every level. I was humbled by both the fact that I had not considered how a recovering addict would respond to a lot with the detritus of addiction strewn about and then releived by the response of TROSA that showered their members with honest respect.
This still leaves us with a bamboo lot strewn with bottles...but we're working on that.
This is the email I sent to them...
To the crew who came to 503 N. Elizabeth St this am,
We are so sorry. We did not consider the fact that the lot would be personally disturbing. We have not suffered under addiction, and had blocked out the suffering and misery that the vacant lot represented in our minds. We knew there were 40 ounce bottles scattered about, but we had seen no needles. Frankly, we wouldn't know what a crack pipe looked like to know if we had seen those. If we had seen the needles or crack pipes we would never have asked for you to enter that situation. I imagine it would be much like thinking your going to the grocery store and really entering a haunted house.
We have the utmost respect for TROSA and the PINNACLE of respect for all of the brave men and women who enter and complete the program. You are amazing and brave souls and we are so truly sorry we caused any of you any pain this morning.
Please let us know if there is any way we can make this up to you.
Natalie Spring & J. Harris Carpenter
We had TROSA come to haul away all of the bamboo and such that I have lopped, only to discover that we are heartless and thoughtless. It was quite an eye-opening experience for me.
The estimate they gave was great, their lawn shop supervisor visited the site and thought it would be a quick job. We were happy that all of the bamboo would be hauled off and we could focus on cleaning the lot. When the crew arrived, several of the workers freaked out. They saw bottles. They saw needles. They couldn't work in those conditions.
We found this out when we called TROSA to find out what time they would be there so we could pay, sign the paperwork, and generally cheer them on and thank them. TROSA amazed us that day. If you have any experience with day laborers or the general state of workers who are paid off the books in Durham, you know that it is a sad place with no work place protections, pay under the table, and wages less than minimum wage. Workers are treated at chattle.
When you combine non-profit status to that, often people are exploited beyond belief. In the name of recovering, someone else benefits from their labor entirely.
TROSA is the exact opposite of this. We knew this before hiring them, but had it confirmed in numerous ways that day.
When their workers came to the supervisor and said they were uncomfortable TROSA listened. They DID NOT tell their community members to suck it up. They did not tell them to get back in there and finish the damn job. They LISTENED. They responded with respect.
TROSA pulled the crew out of the lot immediately. They called and explained that while they did provide services, it was a treatment facility and therapuetic community. They could not put their residents in a place or position that would be detrimental to their recovery from addiction. They were very sorry and they would love to finish the job, but since there were bottles (and someone saw needles) they just couldn't put their workers in that situation. Thank you for the business, but they would have to turn the job down until the situation changed.
Trosa is amazing.
When you consider the amount of power someone at month 6 has in a 2 year residential treatment facility generally, to be able to say, I spoke up and people listened and respected what I had to say. People were concerned not about the bottom line, but about my well being and opinions. This says so much about the people who run TROSA at every level. I was humbled by both the fact that I had not considered how a recovering addict would respond to a lot with the detritus of addiction strewn about and then releived by the response of TROSA that showered their members with honest respect.
This still leaves us with a bamboo lot strewn with bottles...but we're working on that.
This is the email I sent to them...
To the crew who came to 503 N. Elizabeth St this am,
We are so sorry. We did not consider the fact that the lot would be personally disturbing. We have not suffered under addiction, and had blocked out the suffering and misery that the vacant lot represented in our minds. We knew there were 40 ounce bottles scattered about, but we had seen no needles. Frankly, we wouldn't know what a crack pipe looked like to know if we had seen those. If we had seen the needles or crack pipes we would never have asked for you to enter that situation. I imagine it would be much like thinking your going to the grocery store and really entering a haunted house.
We have the utmost respect for TROSA and the PINNACLE of respect for all of the brave men and women who enter and complete the program. You are amazing and brave souls and we are so truly sorry we caused any of you any pain this morning.
Please let us know if there is any way we can make this up to you.
Natalie Spring & J. Harris Carpenter
Thursday, February 3, 2011
a slight update
That bamboo...
We have failed to mention that on bamboo day two we discovered that Harris has an extreme immunological response to the fibery things in bamboo. This means that the majority of lopping, cutting, hacking, and moving has fallen to Natalie.
Great.
I truly enjoy it though, so it's not a big deal. It's rather relaxing if you can believe it. I lop, chop, move, and chat with the people in the group home next door. They are not quite convinced yet that I (and Harris) own the house and lot nor that we don't need any help with any odd jobs yet.
Tomorrow TROSA will be coming to haul off all of the bamboo, brush, and limbs that we've managed to cut down in the past month. While I know that the lot will still look like crap, for some reason I've got this Disney Miracle (tm) image in my head that suddenly our lot will be picnic clean after they leave!
It won't. I know. You can all say you told me so.
We've got to blow all of the detritus and leaves into...something...right now the plan is the bottom most corner of the lot that has ivy on top of it. Maybe the droppings of the bamboo will suffocate the ivy as they decompose?
Before and after pictures posted...after. Yeah.
The girl child celebrates her birthday this weekend so work will be minimal.
We have failed to mention that on bamboo day two we discovered that Harris has an extreme immunological response to the fibery things in bamboo. This means that the majority of lopping, cutting, hacking, and moving has fallen to Natalie.
Great.
I truly enjoy it though, so it's not a big deal. It's rather relaxing if you can believe it. I lop, chop, move, and chat with the people in the group home next door. They are not quite convinced yet that I (and Harris) own the house and lot nor that we don't need any help with any odd jobs yet.
Tomorrow TROSA will be coming to haul off all of the bamboo, brush, and limbs that we've managed to cut down in the past month. While I know that the lot will still look like crap, for some reason I've got this Disney Miracle (tm) image in my head that suddenly our lot will be picnic clean after they leave!
It won't. I know. You can all say you told me so.
We've got to blow all of the detritus and leaves into...something...right now the plan is the bottom most corner of the lot that has ivy on top of it. Maybe the droppings of the bamboo will suffocate the ivy as they decompose?
Before and after pictures posted...after. Yeah.
The girl child celebrates her birthday this weekend so work will be minimal.
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